Vincent Kompany wants his side of Bayern Munich to be ready to attack “big games” in the next round of the Champions League while they may be confronted with Manchester City.
Both Bayern and the former club city of Kompany would have expected in the top eight and avoid the play-off round.
But the two parties could now be linked in a fight to reach the last 16 after faltering competition phase campaigns.
At least Bayern ensured that they are sown in Friday's draw after beating Slovan Bratislava 3-1 on Wednesday, but their reward will be city or Celtic.
That is a discouraging prospect, but Kompany said: “Now we have to restore this energy to be hot for those games.
“Now, both City and Celtic, go into these knockout competitions with a good feeling, and we must have that too.
“We have to build our energy. We have to switch to the mentality to look out at these big games. You will be on stage of a competition where you expect big games.”
We will be confronted with Manchester City of Celtic FC in the #UCL Knockout-phase play-offs. #Fcbayern #miasanmia pic.twitter.com/2407YCVK3S
– FC Bayern (@fcbayernen) January 29, 2025
Even if Bayern encounters, they will at least know that their fate is in their own hands.
The victory over Slowan was not enough to finish in the top eight because of the results elsewhere, a situation that frustrates Kompany.
“Despite the victory today, the joy is not the same,” he said. “Today we have not had many things in our control over the situation, but from tomorrow we will have it again.
“We now have to change the mentality to be completely energetic for these games.”
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